Trigeminal neuralgia pain

[cat1234999]

In 2004 was diagnosised wit TN after many meds that year and losing 40 lbs since I could not eat had a MVD  on the left side at the University of Chicago which help alot but pain did not go away altogether and I am still on meds in Oct of this year was diagnosised  with Medullary Thyroid cancer at the Mayo clinic and had surgery right away but they did a genetic test since this type of thyroid cancer is heraditery and hard to treat. TN can also be hereditery so I am wondering could this be a bad gene in me somewhere? I also have developed pain on the right side lately wondering is the TN can go to the other side of your face?

[nancy99n]

bilateral - means both sides of the face
typical tn is the sharp or jabbing or "electrical" type of pains that come and go.  atypical tn is more of a constant pain.
There are also other types of facial neuralgias.  You really need to talk to a facial pain specialist to have the correct diagnosis.  Usually you can find a facial pain specialist at a large teaching hospital that has a pain clinic.

[ed48700]

i believe i have bilateral tn.

how do you diagnos it.

what is atypical tn.

how do you establish all the differences?

[nancy99n]

Don't know about the hereditary part of TN -- I always thought I just had bad luck in getting it.

However, TN CAN be bilateral - both sides of the face.  Speak to your doctor.  They may be able to do a second procedure on the right side as well.